Thanksgiving Cakes: 12 Easy Bakes for the Guests Who Skip the Pie, Led by Pecan Pie Dump Cake

Thanksgiving Cakes are having a moment this fall, and the search numbers prove it: pecan pie dump cake, sweet potato cake and invisible apple cake are all climbing fast in the US this month. Every family has at least one guest who quietly passes on the pie, and a big sheet cake, bundt or tall layer cake feeds that crowd with less fuss than rolling crust. Cake has sat beside pie on the American table for generations, as the history of the Thanksgiving dinner shows. This list gathers gooey dump cakes, Southern layer cakes, cozy loaf cakes and simple pans for a crowd, with apples, pecans, cranberries, maple and warm spice in every bite. Most of them can be baked a day ahead, which frees the oven for the turkey. Clear a spot on the counter and start with the pecans..

Pecan Pie Dump Cake, the Easiest of the Thanksgiving Cakes

Pecan pie dump cake tastes like the gooey center of a pecan pie hiding under a buttery, crisp cake top, and US searches for it jumped 190 percent this month. You pour the pecan filling into a pan, sprinkle dry cake mix over it and drizzle melted butter on top. No mixer, no crust, no stress. Make sure every bit of cake mix gets moistened with butter so no dry spots remain. Serve it warm with a scoop of vanilla ice cream. If your family loves easy pans like this, try more dump cake recipes next. It leads this list of Thanksgiving Cakes for good reason..

You will need: 1 1/2 cups light corn syrup, 1 cup brown sugar, 4 large eggs, 1 tsp vanilla, 2 cups chopped pecans, 15.25 oz box yellow cake mix, 3/4 cup melted butter

How to make it: 1. Heat oven to 350 F and grease a 9×13 pan. 2. Whisk corn syrup, brown sugar, eggs and vanilla, then stir in pecans and pour into pan. 3. Sprinkle dry cake mix evenly over the top. 4. Drizzle melted butter over every part of the mix. 5. Bake 45 to 50 minutes until golden and set, then cool 30 minutes.

Hummingbird Cake, a Southern Legend Among Thanksgiving Cakes

Hummingbird cake came out of Southern kitchens in the 1970s and quickly became one of the most requested recipes in Southern Living magazine history. Bananas, crushed pineapple and pecans make it super moist, with a thick cream cheese frosting between three layers. Use very ripe bananas for the sweetest flavor. Drain the pineapple lightly but keep some juice. It is a showstopper among Thanksgiving Cakes for anyone who wants a tall layer cake. Pair it with classic Southern layer cakes. Ready to bake a legend?

You will need: 3 cups flour, 2 cups sugar, 1 tsp baking soda, 1 tsp cinnamon, 1/2 tsp salt, 3 large eggs, 1 cup oil, 2 cups mashed ripe bananas, 8 oz can crushed pineapple, 1 cup chopped pecans, 1 1/2 tsp vanilla, 16 oz cream cheese, 1 cup butter, 6 cups powdered sugar

How to make it: 1. Heat oven to 350 F and grease three 9 inch pans. 2. Whisk flour, sugar, soda, cinnamon and salt. 3. Stir in eggs, oil, bananas, pineapple, pecans and vanilla just until combined. 4. Divide and bake 25 to 30 minutes, then cool. 5. Beat cream cheese, butter and powdered sugar and frost between layers and outside.

Caramel Apple Poke Cake

Poke cakes were a church potluck sensation in the 1970s, and this caramel apple version is pure nostalgia. A spiced cake is poked all over with the end of a wooden spoon, then filled with caramel sauce that soaks into every bite. Top with whipped topping, sauteed apples and an extra drizzle of caramel. Make it the day before so it fully soaks. Keep it refrigerated. Pair it with poke and sheet cakes. Will your kids help with the poking?

You will need: 15.25 oz box spice cake mix, ingredients the box calls for, 1 cup caramel sauce, 14 oz can sweetened condensed milk, 2 apples diced and sauteed in 1 tbsp butter with 1 tsp cinnamon, 8 oz whipped topping

How to make it: 1. Bake spice cake in a 9×13 pan according to the box and cool 15 minutes. 2. Poke all over with the handle of a wooden spoon. 3. Mix condensed milk and 3/4 cup caramel and pour over the cake. 4. Chill 3 hours. 5. Spread with whipped topping and top with apples and remaining caramel.

Gingerbread Cake With Lemon Glaze

Gingerbread cake searches are up 50 percent as the holidays near. This dark, moist cake made with molasses and ginger gets a tangy lemon glaze that cuts through the spice beautifully. It is an old colonial American dessert that still feels right at the end of a big feast. Bake it in a bundt pan for a pretty shape, or in a 9×13 pan for easy squares. Use fresh ginger along with ground for extra zing, and let it rest overnight for even better flavor. Love the spice? Try these Southern holiday baking gifts too. Lemon glaze or whipped cream on top?

You will need: 1/2 cup butter, 1/2 cup brown sugar, 1 cup molasses, 2 large eggs, 2 1/2 cups flour, 1 1/2 tsp baking soda, 1 tbsp ground ginger, 1 tbsp grated fresh ginger, 1 tsp cinnamon, 1/2 tsp salt, 1 cup hot water, 1 cup powdered sugar, 2 tbsp lemon juice

How to make it: 1. Heat oven to 350 F and grease a 10 inch bundt pan or 9×13 pan. 2. Cream butter and brown sugar, then beat in molasses and eggs. 3. Stir in dry ingredients and fresh ginger, then hot water. 4. Bake 35 to 45 minutes and cool. 5. Whisk powdered sugar and lemon juice and drizzle over the cake.

Sweet Potato Cake, the Southern Pick of the Thanksgiving Cakes

Southern grandmothers have baked sweet potatoes into cakes for generations, and searches for sweet potato cake are up 90 percent this year. Mashed sweet potatoes make the layers moist and tender with warm cinnamon and nutmeg flavor. A thick swirl of cream cheese frosting makes it party-ready. Roast the sweet potatoes instead of boiling for deeper flavor. It is a lovely change from pie for guests who want something new. Pair it with soul food Thanksgiving desserts. Will you add toasted pecans on top?

You will need: 2 cups mashed roasted sweet potatoes, 2 cups sugar, 1 cup oil, 4 large eggs, 2 cups flour, 2 tsp baking powder, 1 tsp baking soda, 2 tsp cinnamon, 1/2 tsp nutmeg, 1/2 tsp salt, 8 oz cream cheese, 1/2 cup butter, 4 cups powdered sugar, 1 tsp vanilla

How to make it: 1. Heat oven to 350 F and grease a 9×13 pan. 2. Beat sweet potatoes, sugar, oil and eggs. 3. Stir in flour, baking powder, soda, spices and salt and spread in pan. 4. Bake 35 to 40 minutes and cool completely. 5. Beat cream cheese, butter, powdered sugar and vanilla and frost.

Chai Spice Layer Cake

Chai spice brings cinnamon, cardamom, ginger and cloves together in one warm cake that smells like a cozy cafe on a rainy afternoon. Steep the milk with chai tea bags first for even deeper flavor. A fluffy buttercream speckled with the same spices ties the layers together, and a simple chocolate drip over the top makes it look bakery-made. Toast the spices briefly in a dry pan before using for a stronger aroma. It is a modern pick that still feels traditional next to the pie. If you love blending your own spices, try these homemade spice mixes in a jar. Who loves chai at your table?

You will need: 1 cup milk steeped with 3 chai tea bags, 1 cup softened butter, 1 3/4 cups sugar, 4 large eggs, 2 tsp vanilla, 3 cups flour, 1 tbsp baking powder, 1/2 tsp salt, 2 tsp cinnamon, 1 tsp cardamom, 1 tsp ginger, 1/4 tsp cloves, 1 1/2 cups butter, 5 cups powdered sugar, 3 oz melted dark chocolate

How to make it: 1. Steep milk with tea bags 15 minutes, discard bags and cool. 2. Cream butter and sugar, then beat in eggs and vanilla. 3. Add dry ingredients alternately with chai milk. 4. Bake in two 9 inch pans at 350 F for 28 to 32 minutes and cool. 5. Beat butter and powdered sugar with a pinch of cinnamon, frost, then spoon melted chocolate over the top edge.

Invisible Apple Cake, the Prettiest of the Thanksgiving Cakes

The French call it gateau invisible, because the thin apple slices melt into the custardy batter until you can barely see them. Each slice shows dozens of delicate apple layers, and it tastes like the best apple pie filling in cake form. Searches for it are up 70 percent. Use a mandoline or very sharp knife to slice the apples paper thin. Let it cool fully before slicing for clean layers. It is a beautiful, elegant entry in our Thanksgiving Cakes list. Serve with glazed apple fritter bakes. Ready to impress?

You will need: 6 apples peeled and very thinly sliced, 3 large eggs, 1/3 cup sugar, 1 cup milk, 3 tbsp melted butter, 1 tsp vanilla, 3/4 cup flour, 1 tsp baking powder, pinch of salt, powdered sugar

How to make it: 1. Heat oven to 350 F and line a 9×5 loaf pan. 2. Whisk eggs and sugar until foamy, then milk, butter and vanilla. 3. Whisk in flour, baking powder and salt. 4. Fold in apple slices and pack into pan. 5. Bake 60 to 70 minutes until golden and a knife comes out clean, cool and dust with powdered sugar.

Brown Butter Pecan Pound Cake

Pound cake is a Southern table must, and brown butter takes it to a new level with a toasty, caramel-like flavor. Toasted pecans folded into the batter add a little crunch to every slice. Cool the browned butter until it is soft and spreadable before creaming. Baking it in two loaf pans gives you one cake for the holiday and one to freeze for later. A slow, low bake gives a tender crumb and a golden crust. Slice it thick and serve with whipped cream. It sits proudly among the most requested family recipes that relatives ask for every year. Plain or with a glaze?

You will need: 1 1/2 cups butter browned and chilled until soft, 2 1/2 cups sugar, 5 large eggs, 1 tbsp vanilla, 3 cups flour, 1/2 tsp baking powder, 1/2 tsp salt, 1 cup milk, 1 1/2 cups toasted chopped pecans

How to make it: 1. Heat oven to 325 F and grease two 9×5 loaf pans. 2. Cream brown butter and sugar 5 minutes, then beat in eggs one at a time and vanilla. 3. Add dry ingredients alternately with milk. 4. Fold in pecans and divide between pans. 5. Bake 60 to 70 minutes until a skewer comes out clean.

Maple Pecan Sheet Cake, Thanksgiving Cakes for a Crowd

A sheet cake is the friendliest dessert for a big Thanksgiving crowd, and this maple pecan version tastes like a cozy weekend breakfast. The cake is flavored with real maple syrup, and the warm maple frosting gets poured over and sprinkled with toasted pecans. Pour the frosting while the cake is still warm so it sets glossy. It feeds 24 easily. It is one of the most crowd-friendly Thanksgiving Cakes on the list. Pair it with Thanksgiving desserts that are not pie. How many guests are you feeding?

You will need: 1 cup butter, 1 cup water, 2 cups flour, 1 1/2 cups brown sugar, 1 tsp baking soda, 1/2 tsp salt, 2 large eggs, 1/2 cup buttermilk, 1/2 cup pure maple syrup, 1/2 cup butter, 1/3 cup maple syrup, 3 cups powdered sugar, 1 cup toasted chopped pecans

How to make it: 1. Heat oven to 350 F and grease a 13×18 sheet pan. 2. Boil butter and water, then whisk into flour, sugar, soda and salt. 3. Whisk in eggs, buttermilk and maple syrup and spread in pan. 4. Bake 20 to 22 minutes. 5. Boil butter and maple syrup, whisk in powdered sugar, pour over warm cake and top with pecans.

Pear Ginger Cake

Juicy fall pears and warm ginger make an elegant, not-too-sweet cake for guests who want something lighter after a big meal. Thin pear slices fan across the top and turn golden and glossy in the oven. Use firm but ripe pears so they hold their shape. A spoonful of honey brushed on top while warm adds shine. It is a beautiful, rustic dessert and one of the lighter Thanksgiving Cakes. Serve it with holiday upside-down cakes. Have you tried pears in a cake?

You will need: 1/2 cup softened butter, 3/4 cup sugar, 2 large eggs, 1/2 cup sour cream, 1 tsp vanilla, 1 1/2 cups flour, 1 1/2 tsp baking powder, 1 1/2 tsp ground ginger, 1/4 tsp salt, 2 firm pears thinly sliced, 2 tbsp honey

How to make it: 1. Heat oven to 350 F and grease a 9 inch springform pan. 2. Cream butter and sugar, then beat in eggs, sour cream and vanilla. 3. Stir in flour, baking powder, ginger and salt and spread in pan. 4. Fan pear slices on top. 5. Bake 45 to 50 minutes and brush with warm honey.

Cranberry Christmas Cake, the Thanksgiving Cakes Bridge to December

This buttery cranberry cake has become a viral favorite and goes from Thanksgiving straight to Christmas. It is simple, with a dense, sweet crumb studded with tart cranberries and a crisp sugary edge. Beat the eggs and sugar for a full 5 to 7 minutes, because that is what makes it rise without leavening. Dust it with powdered sugar for a snowy look. It is one of the easiest Thanksgiving Cakes to bake for a crowd. Serve it with ruby red Christmas bakes. Will this become your holiday tradition?

You will need: 3 large eggs at room temperature, 2 cups sugar, 3/4 cup softened butter, 1 tsp vanilla, 2 cups flour, 12 oz fresh cranberries, powdered sugar

How to make it: 1. Heat oven to 350 F and grease a 9×13 pan. 2. Beat eggs and sugar 5 to 7 minutes until thick and pale. 3. Beat in butter and vanilla, then fold in flour. 4. Fold in cranberries and spread in pan. 5. Bake 40 to 45 minutes until golden and dust with powdered sugar.

Apple Butter Spice Cake

Apple butter, that slow-cooked spread Grandma kept in the cellar, makes this spice cake extra moist and full of deep apple flavor. Cinnamon, nutmeg and cloves round out the cozy taste. A simple caramel or cream cheese frosting finishes it. Use store-bought or homemade apple butter. The cake stays moist for days, so bake it ahead and save oven space. It is a nostalgic close to this list of Thanksgiving Cakes. Pair it with pioneer recipes from Little House. Do you still have a jar in the pantry?

You will need: 1/2 cup softened butter, 1 cup brown sugar, 2 large eggs, 1 cup apple butter, 1/2 cup buttermilk, 2 cups flour, 1 tsp baking soda, 1 tsp cinnamon, 1/2 tsp nutmeg, 1/4 tsp cloves, 1/2 tsp salt, 8 oz cream cheese, 1/4 cup butter, 3 cups powdered sugar

How to make it: 1. Heat oven to 350 F and grease a 9×13 pan. 2. Cream butter and brown sugar, then beat in eggs and apple butter. 3. Add dry ingredients alternately with buttermilk. 4. Bake 30 to 35 minutes and cool. 5. Beat cream cheese, butter and powdered sugar and frost.